Seoul 2011: Chevrolet Mi-ray Concept

by Matthew Wilson

Chevrolet has just debuted its new Mi-ray concept at this year's Seoul Motor Show, currently taking place in South Korea. The automaker claims "the roadster celebrates Chevrolet's 100-year heritage of designing expressive vehicles." 'Mi-ray' means 'future' in Korean, as its clear that GM sees the country as source for ongoing sales and future possibilities for the brand. According to the official press release, the exterior pays homage to Chevrolet's small car heritage.

The influence specifically comes from the 1963 Monza SS and the 1962 Corvair Super Spyder, but now with an aerodynamic fuselage that's inspired by modern jet fighters. The carbon fiber body features Le Mans racer-style scissor doors, LED headlamps, and carbon fiber spoilers at the corners that help with down force and airflow. The interior, which is also surrounded by a carbon fiber shell, also takes inspiration from jet fighters with brushed aluminum, leather, white fabric and liquid metal surfaces.

It's powered by a pair of front-mounted 15 kW electric motors that are mated to a 1.6-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack that's partially charged with regenerative braking. At higher speeds, power comes from a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine. This engine combination is mated to a dual-clutch transmission. Interestingly, the Mi-ray can switch from front and rear-wheel drive whenever the driver chooses.